Presidency has raised concerns over the circulation of deepfake videos and manipulated online content targeting President Bola Tinubu ahead of the election season.
In a statement issued on Thursday through the Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy, the Presidency said fabricated videos and false audio recordings were being shared across social media platforms and messaging apps to spread misinformation and stir religious tensions.
According to the statement, one of the recent videos falsely involved a religious leader and was designed to incite Muslims against the President.
“We are aware of yet another deliberate attempt to weaponise religion for politics across various online platforms,” the statement said.
The Presidency also referred to an earlier incident involving a manipulated video with fake audio and false attribution aimed at portraying President Tinubu negatively through the identity of an influencer.
It said the trend showed a coordinated attempt by some individuals to spread falsehood and create division as political activities increase.
“As the political season approaches, desperate actors will continue to manufacture outrage, distort faith, manipulate context, spread falsehoods, and push dangerous emotional bait across social media platforms and WhatsApp groups in an attempt to divide Nigerians for political gain,” the statement added.
The Presidency said Tinubu remained committed to religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, noting that he is a Muslim married to a Christian and leads a multi-religious country guided by constitutional freedom of worship.
It also referenced the President’s 2026 Easter and Ramadan messages where he spoke about shared values between Christianity and Islam, including compassion, justice, sacrifice and love for humanity.
The Presidency urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing content online and warned against amplifying divisive narratives.
“This is not faith or patriotism. Neither is it politics. This is coordinated manipulation at scale,” the statement said.
It also warned that those involved in spreading false or malicious content could face investigation and prosecution under cybercrime and public order laws.
